KUCHING: The national health care system reform that was proposed recently by the Minister of Health is commendable.
The Health Cluster of the Sarawak CSO-SDG Alliance said that the proposal provides a golden opportunity to address the many gaps in Sarawak’s current health care system.
The alliance had some of the recommendations such as decentralisation to facilitate development of effective primary health care.
“To move forward, decentralisation to the State level with the necessary resource and structures put in place is a top priority.
“The State will then need to decentralise further so that primary care clinics can serve as vibrant hubs of health and social care catering to the needs of diverse communities through working in partnership with them, community health promoters, and other relevant agencies including appropriately funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” it said in a statement.
It also added that there should be a transparent data on addressing inequalities and resources allocation.
“Data on needs, access to healthcare, out-of-pocket expenses, and resource allocation need to be accurately collated in a timely manner and made public.
“In the multiple dimensions of poverty measurement, all needs and groups should be captured, including people in remote areas not covered in the national household income and basic amenities survey and those who are awaiting citizenship status. Action should be taken to ensure levelling-up in healthcare services provision so that no one is left behind,” it added.
It said that both the proposed Health Reform Commission and the White Paper Advisory Council need to have equitable representation from Peninsular and East Malaysia and key stakeholders, including consumers and implementers with lived experience.
The alliance also said that the future of health care will involve creative, effective use of technology both to share information and training, and to enable early intervention, treatment and specialist support in remote locations.
“By 2030, the goal should be to provide telemedicine services to all rural clinics and to distribute the latest technologies (example cervical and breast cancer screening) that enable early detection of conditions even in remote areas. National policy decisions such as the “acceptance of online payments only” for MOH services, may aggravate their access and utilisation in already underserved areas,” it added.
It added that investing in health means investing in all areas.
“While Sarawak ranks third in terms of Gross Domestic Product after Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan, it is the third poorest state, as measured by the 2020 Household Income Estimate and Incidence of Poverty Report, and has acute shortages of health workers and many dilapidated clinics and schools. This needs to change,” it said.
